R&B star Ashanti surprised crowds at Oaks Day in Melbourne by taking over the DJ booth and singing her iconic hit "What's Luv?" featuring Fat Joe, leaving fans star-struck.
Emma Peters, a Melbourne-based DJ, shared a clip of the moment on social media, showing Ashanti behind the decks with a microphone belting out classic R&B tracks from the early 2000s. Peters wrote in the caption: "Not Ashanti casually taking over the DJ booth at Oaks Day!"
Surprise Appearance at Flemington Racecourse
Oaks Day is the third major race day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington Racecourse in Australia. The Princess of R&B happened to be in the country for the occasion, making her appearance less random than it seemed.
Since the clip was shared on Peters' page, it drew significant attention from fans who were completely star-struck. One wrote: "I'm screaming," while another added: "Queen Ashanti." A third commented: "Ashanti ICON!"
A Storied Career and Current Tour
Following the 2002 release of her self-titled debut album, Ashanti became the first female artist to simultaneously hold the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 with her single "Foolish" and Ja Rule's "Always on Time." She went on to define the R&B-hip-hop crossover era of the early 2000s through major features like Fat Joe's "What's Luv?"
Her debut album earned her a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album, alongside multiple Billboard and Soul Train Music Awards. Ashanti is currently touring Australia and preparing to re-record her classic 2002 debut album to own her masters.
Ashanti, who married rapper Nelly in 2023, is also filming an upcoming reality TV series that showcases their relationship and life as parents to their two-year-old son KK.
